The relationships among monocyte subsets,miRNAs and inflammatory cytokines in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) causes irreversible myocardial damage and release of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines, chemokines and miRNAs. We aimed to investigate changes in the levels of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10), miRNAs profiles (miR-146 and miR-155) and distribution of different monocyte subsets (CD14++CD16-, CD14++CD16+, CD14+CD16++) in the acute and post-healing phases of AMI.

Glucose starvation induces resistance to metformin through the elevation of mitochondrial multidrug resistance protein 1

Metformin, a drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus, has shown therapeutic effects for various cancers. However, it had no beneficial effects on the survival rate of human malignant mesothelioma (HMM) patients. The present study was performed to elucidate the underlying mechanism of metformin resistance in HMM cells. Glucose‐starved HMM cells had enhanced resistance to metformin, demonstrated by decreased apoptosis and autophagy and increased cell survival. These cells showed abnormalities in mitochondria, such as decreased ATP synthesis, morphological elongation, altered mitochondrial permeability transition pore and hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Intriguingly, Mdr1 was significantly upregulated in mitochondria but not in cell membrane. The upregulated mitochondrial Mdr1 was reversed by treatment with carbonyl cyanide m‐chlorophenyl hydrazone, an MMP depolarization inducer. Furthermore, apoptosis and autophagy were increased in multidrug resistance protein 1 knockout HMM cells cultured under glucose starvation with metformin treatment. The data suggest that mitochondrial Mdr1 plays a critical role in the chemoresistance to metformin in HMM cells, which could be a potential target for improving its therapeutic efficacy.     

Deficient glucose uptake is linked to impaired Glut1 expression upon CD3/CD28 stimulation in memory T cells from pleural effusions secondary to lung cancer

Glucose and nutrient uptake is essential in supporting T cell activation and is increased upon CD3/CD28 stimulation. As T cells from pleural effusions secondary to lung cancer show impaired function, we hypothesized that these cells might have altered expression of nutrient transporters. Here, we analysed by flow cytometry the expression of the transferrin receptor CD71, amino acid transporter CD98 and glucose transporter Glut1 and glucose uptake in pleural effusion‐derived T cells from lung cancer patients, after stimulation via CD3/CD28 under normoxia or hypoxia (2% O₂). We compared the response of T cells from pleural effusions secondary to lung cancer with that of T cells from nonmalignant effusions. In memory T cells from both groups, anti‐CD3/CD28‐stimulation under normoxia upregulated CD98 and CD71 expression (measured as median fluorescence intensity, MFI) in comparison with anti‐CD3‐stimulation. Costimulation under hypoxia tended to increase CD98 expression compared to CD3‐stimulation in memory T cells from both groups. Remarkably, in the cancer group, memory T cells stimulated via CD3/CD28 under hypoxia failed to increase CD71 and Glut1 expression levels compared to the cells receiving anti‐CD3 stimulation, a phenomenon that contrasted with the behaviour of memory T cells from nonmalignant effusions. Consequently, glucose uptake by memory T cells from the cancer group was not increased after CD3/CD28 stimulation under hypoxia, implying that their glycolytic metabolism is defective. As this process is required for inducing an antitumoural response, our study suggests that memory T cells are rendered dysfunctional and are unable to eliminate lung tumour cells.     

醛糖还原酶和晚期糖基化终末产物受体对糖尿病视网膜病变神经元凋亡的影响

目的　探究醛糖还原酶和晚期糖基化终末产物受体对糖尿病视网膜病变神经元凋亡的影响。方法　Wistar大鼠36只，随机分为对照组、模型组、转染组，后两组建立糖尿病大鼠模型。模型建立成功后，构建含有晚期糖基化终末产物受体siRNA的质粒并利用慢病毒转染入转染组大鼠体内。造模后4周、8周、12周，记录各组大鼠体质量及空腹血糖。造模后9周，禁食6 h，测定口服葡萄糖耐量。造模后12周，处死全部大鼠后，TUNEL法检测各组大鼠视网膜神经元凋亡情况，荧光分光光度计测定醛糖还原酶活性，Western blotting法测定晚期糖基化终末产物受体的表达，RT-PCR检测视网膜中Bcl-2和Bax mRNA相对表达量。结果　造模后4周、8周、12周，转染组和模型组的大鼠体质量均低于对照组（均为P<0.05）；造模后12周，转染组大鼠体质量高于模型组（P<0.05）。造模后4周、8周、12周，各组内大鼠空腹血糖水平均无明显变化（均为P>0.05），转染组和模型组大鼠的空腹血糖水平均高于对照组（均为P<0.05）。模型组和转染组大鼠在口服葡萄糖后30 min时，血糖水平均高于对照组（均为P<0.05）；在120 min时分别下降至最低，但仍高于对照组（均为P<0.05）。模型组和转染组的视网膜神经元凋亡指数、醛糖还原酶活性、晚期糖基化终末产物受体和Bax mRNA相对表达量均高于对照组（均为P<0.05），且转染组均高于模型组（均为P<0.05）。模型组和转染组的Bcl-2 mRNA相对表达量均低于对照组（均为P<0.05），转染组低于模型组（P<0.05）。结论　晚期糖基化终末产物结合受体后产生大量的氧自由基损伤，可能是导致糖尿病视网膜神经元凋亡，进而导致糖尿病视网膜病变发生的机制之一。     

Vegetarians have a lower fasting insulin level and higher insulin sensitivity than matched omnivores: A cross-sectional study

Background and aims

Potential associations of vegetarian diet patterns with fasting insulin (FI) and insulin sensitivity remain unclear. We aimed to investigate whether vegetarian diets were associated with FI and insulin sensitivity in a cross-sectional study in Chinese vegetarians and matched omnivores and then to test whether it is independent of body mass index (BMI).

基于网络药理学和分子对接技术探讨生脉注射液抗新型冠状病毒肺炎的作用机制

目的采用网络药理学与分子对接技术探讨生脉注射液的活性成分和治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的潜在作用机制。方法利用TCMSP及BATMAN-TCM数据库筛选生脉注射液的活性化合物,通过TCMSP及Targetnet在线数据库预测作用靶点,通过Cytoscape3.7.1构建活性成分-作用靶点网络图;在GeneCards及OMIM数据库中以"coronavirus pneumonia"为关键词搜索冠状病毒肺炎相关疾病靶点,与生脉注射液化合物靶点进行交集筛选出共同靶点作为研究靶点,将共同靶点导入STRING数据库获取数据后在Cytoscape 3.7.1软件中构建蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用网络图;利用R语言进行GO(gene ontology)功能、KEGG(Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes)通路富集分析,预测其作用机制,并构建"成分-靶点-通路"网络图;通过DiscoveryStudio 2.5软件对关键靶点进行分子对接分析。结果生脉注射液筛选得到22个活性化合物,分别为邻苯二甲酸二辛酯、β-谷甾醇、当归酰基戈米辛O、戈米辛A、戈米辛R、五味子丙素、内南五味子酯乙、长南酸、南五味子内酯、香蒲木脂素B、新杜松烷酸A、新杜松烷酸B、新杜松烷酸C、新南五味子木脂宁、五味子内酯A、五味子内酯E、五味子酸、尿苷、薯蓣皂苷元、鸟嘌呤核苷、N-反式阿魏酰酪胺、豆甾醇。相应作用靶点224个,与COVID-19的共同靶点16个,分别为CASP3、CASP8、PTGS2、BCL2、BAX、PRKCA、PTGS1、PIK3CG、F10、NOS3、DPP4、NOS2、TLR9、ACE、ICAM1、PRKCE,关键靶点涉及CASP3、PTGS2、NOS2、NOS3、ICAM1。GO功能富集分析得到生物过程(BP)条目771个,细胞组成(CC)条目11个,分子功能(MF)条目79个。KEGG通路富集分析筛选得到67条(P0.05)信号通路,主要涉及糖尿病并发症AGE-RAGE信号通路、凋亡通路、P53信号通路、小细胞肺癌通路等。分子对接结果显示与关键靶点对接较好的成分有五味子内酯E、豆甾醇、N-反式阿魏酰酪胺。结论生脉注射液中的活性化合物五味子内酯E、豆甾醇、N-反式阿魏酰酪胺等能作用于CASP3、PTGS2、NOS2、NOS3等靶点调节多条信号通路发挥抗炎、免疫调节、抗休克、增加血氧饱和度等作用,从而可能发挥对COVID-19的治疗作用。     

血糖检验中快速血糖仪与常规生化仪的应用

目的比较快速血糖仪与常规生化仪在血糖检验中的价值。方法选择本院224例需要行血糖检验的患者,随机分为观察组和对照组,各112例,每组又根据是否糖尿病患者分为糖尿病患者组和非糖尿病患者组;对照组给予常规生化仪检测,观察组给予快速血糖仪检测,比较两组空腹血糖、餐后2 h血糖。结果观察组与对照组糖尿病患者和非糖尿病空腹血糖、餐后2 h血糖检测水平差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);观察组检测时间为(0.52±0.21)min,对照组为(32.76±3.45)min,观察组较对照组短(P<0.05)。结论快速血糖仪与常规生化仪进行血糖检验均具有较好的效果,但快速血糖仪更快捷、方便。